The Collections Framework is supplied with all versions of the Java 2 platform and provides programmers with incredibly efficient ways to manipulate data. However, given the large number of methods and classes in this library, using them correctly is hardly a cakewalk. Well-known columnist and bestselling author John Zukowski gives the Java professional exactly what he or she needs to know about this vital library in order to maximize productivity. This practical book contains comprehensive coverage of the important Collections Framework from the working programmer's point of view, while staying away from academic abstractions.

Java Collections leads you through the standard Java support for maintaining abstract groups of data, from the historical collection classes available since the inception of Java time, through the Collections Framework introduced with the Java 2 platform, and on to third-party alternative libraries for times when the standard support isn't enough. If you're working with data in Java programs, you need to understand the Collections Framework. Let Zukowski's Java Collections be your guide!

Table of Contents

Java Collections Framework: An Overview
Arrays
The Vector and Stack Classes
The Enumeration Interface
The Dictionary, Hashtable, and Properties Classes
The BitSet Class
Collections Introduction
Sets
Lists
Maps
Sorting
Special Collections Support
Array Algorithm Support
Custom Implementations
Compatibility Issues
Advanced Usages
JGL Libraries
util.concurrent
Colt